Abel Muzorewa

Abel Muzorewa (14 April 1925-8 April 2010) was Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia from 1 June 1979 to 18 April 1980, succeeding Ian Smith and preceding Robert Mugabe.

Biography
Abel Muzorewa was born in Umtali, Uganda Protectorate on 14 April 1925, and he was ordained as a Methodist priest in 1963 and as a bishop in 1968. In 1972, he founded the moderate United African National Council, and in 1977-8 was one of the principal negotiators with Ian Smith in discussions which led to black majority rule. The ensuing elections ot April 1979 resulted in a victory of the African National Congress and his appointment as the first black Prime Minister of what was now known as Zimbabwe Rhodesia. However, the elections had been boycotted by ZANU and ZAPU, who continued their guerrilla warfare. Soon seen as Smith's puppet, he was also shunned by the international community, so that he had to concede renewed negotiations to include representatives of all black groups. In the free elections of March 1980, his party won but three of eighty seats, which led to his subsequent political marginalization. He died in 2010.